Saturday, August 25, 2012

Tomorrow is Jason's birthday! Everyone has been so generous in continuing to think of ways to honor Jason's memory by completing random acts of kindness, including contributing to his ice cream fund.

To date, we have received over $200 in donations that have been taken to the grocery store to be given out as ice cream cones that will hopefully brighten the day for many.

Thank you again for your generous, kind and loving donations and stories. They will begin appearing here on Monday. Please be sure to come back and read them, and be on the lookout for the post with information coming back from the store. They were excited to help out and we look forward to hearing everything they have to share with us.

Our beloved friend Jason, "Mr. Z" to so many, left this world a better place both in life and in passing. Always doing for others, he inspired all of us to love one another, try harder, and have fun while doing it. Jasonknew how to put a smile on someone's face, brighten their day, and make things better - many times without even showing his face. A surprise of home-baked goodies on the doorstep, a sticky note on a desk, or a freshly scraped windshield on a snowy day were just some of the things Jason did for those around him. Some surprises were big, others were little, but they all made a difference. Leaving each person a little better and a little happier than they were before he came was a way of life for Jason. A superb teacher, gifted photographer, eloquent writer, loving family member and fiercely loyal friend were just some of the roles Mr. Z filled on a daily basis.

Though our lives are a little more cloudy since he left us on August 11, 2012, his shining examples live on. We want to continue to share those life lessons - no matter their size - with each other and the world. We want to pay it forward, to go on sprinkling a little bit of Mr. Z's contagious enthusiasm wherever we can.

Please read our"get started" page to learn more about how you can contribute to Project Z. Check out the ice cream fund page too! Come back and if you want, share your good deeds here. Let's see how much we can accomplish by Jason's birthday, September 9th. We want to see just how far we can spread his love around the world. He touched our lives for the better, and we want to continue his legacy.

Ice Cream Fund

Jason had a certain habit when he went to the grocery store. He'd walk up to the counter and buy two ice cream cones. When the cashier inquired about the second cone, he asked them to save it for later and give it to someone who really looked like they needed it. What an awesome way to brighten someone's day! He loved doing this. You can read more about it in his own words here.

We've started an ice cream fund for Jason, that will be donated on the weekend of his birthday. We're hoping to spread lots of ice creamy joy and memories. For under a dollar, you too can brighten someone's day! The staff at the counter are in on the secret and are going to let the lucky ones know that their treat is in memory of someone very special.

When the weekend is up, the store will let us know how many people's day got a little bit sweeter and share any fun stories they may have noticed.

Will you join us?

Around the World

Project Z is spreading happiness around the world! Here is a map showing the location of stories that have been shared. We are all connected by Jason's love and influence.